Startup fund to be made available to UK entrepreneurs

A programme that is being launched in Derry and across the North West will provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to develop their business.

‘Growing Startups’ will enable entrepreneurs to receive £10,000 in seed capital and support from mentors.

Excited

The programme, which will run for 12 weeks, has been created to attract new businesses and provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.

Growing Startups Founder Tony McIntyre said: “We are excited to launch Growing Startups, which will give new local companies a great chance to succeed.”

He added that working in “an intense accelerator environment” will help to nurture these start-ups, providing them with the chance to benefit from the expertise of the programme's investors.

Companies will have 12 weeks to develop prototypes. At the end of the course, they will then pitch their ideas to investors and support organisations.

Passionate

Programme Manager Connor Doherty said that the organisers of the programme are searching for “passionate people with great ideas” who are ready to “take the leap into starting their own business.”

He added that they are looking for companies that are in the very early stages but “have potential to scale.”

“Then, over the course for 12 weeks, we’re going to work intensively to help shape these companies and put them in front of a range of support organisations and other funding options,” he said.